The influence of osteolytic substances on the production of osseous metastases from walker 256 sarcoma in rats

Reports in the early 1960's suggested the possible relationship between the humoral agents producing hypercalcemia in metastatic malignancy and the appearance of osseous metastases. Hartmann and Sherlock indicated that the use of corticosteroids possibly might alter the ease with which metastases to the gastrointestinal mucosa occur in breast carcinoma. The present study was an attempt to verify the previous observations of Pentimalli (1960) that hypercalcemia could produce bony metastases in rats. Using saline controls, ergosterol, methylprcdnisolone, and parathyroid hormone, no bony metastases could be demonstrated in rats implanted with Walker 256 sarcoma. It appears that these osteolytic substances at least within this model do not facilitate the appearance of metastases to bone.